The cupcake update for Android has been rolling out over the last few days, but many users have yet to receive it. One of the benefits of installing a custom Android build is the ability to choose when you upgrade. There have been quite a few custom releases based on the cupcake branch including The Dude’s and Haykuro’s, but I have been waiting for Jesusfreke to upload his build.

While checking his blog tonight, I happened to see a post “When is your 1.5 coming out?” which is exactly what I was thinking. To my surprise, the post actually included his latest release. I downloaded it right away and was up and running in minutes. The new features of this custom build according to Jesusfreke:

Support for the “apps to sdcard” hack. There’s not a separate “apps to sdcard” build. You can use the same build whether you are doing apps to sdcard or not. Thanks to haykuro for explaining how he’s done this in his images, so I can make my builds compatible. See here for a tutorial on setting this up.

I’m not including a recovery image in this build. I ran into some snags getting all of the recovery features to work with the 1.5 recovery image, so I’ll forgo that for now. If you don’t have a spiffy recovery image yet, I’ve packaged up the most recent recovery image from JFv1.43 as a separate update.

I wiped my phone when upgrading so I could have a clean install. The phone feels very snappy with the 1.5 update and has many visual tweaks. Rather than run down everything, this time I decided to snap a bunch of screen shots. There are over 50 screen shots uploaded to our Flick account. I’m working to go back and add descriptions, but if you have a question just post a comment on the photo and I will respond.

If you are interested in learning more about Jesusfreke and his Android builds, he did a short interview with us several months ago. I’m going to see if he will sit down again and answer a few more questions. If you have anything you would like me to ask, post a comment below and I will review it.

Visit our Flickr page for over 50 screenshots.

Taylor is the founder of Android and Me. He resides in Dallas and carries the Samsung Galaxy S 4 and HTC One as his daily devices. Ask him a question on Twitter or Google+ and he is likely to respond. | Ethics statement

I am SOOOOOO LOVIN this update right now it s beautiful, and fast… has a cleaner sleeker feel!!! Android is really going places… (Gotta get back to packing to move out of my dorm lol)

Victor

Does this build have the black calendar background or a white one?

Keithamus

The calendar is white.

http://twitter.com/rickyrescue Ricky

Great pictures! Thanks, it’s really keeping me from going crazy over not having cupcake yet. I hope i get it soon or my head will blow up. :(

@Justin, hey i’m just wondering, are you in the US or UK? And do you have a regular G1, or did u root it, unlock it, all that stuff? I’m still a bit skeptical if this update is really out here or not.

Keithamus

Ricky. I am in the uk and after a days worth of trial and error I am updated to this version of cupcake. I can make and receive calls fine, and all in all there are no problems.

As the article states, having a rooted phone is more beneficial than not. Tethering and apps to sd are the major plus points. I was worried that the rooted version would lose something like the google branded apps or the ability to buy market apps, but in this build literally everything is here. I couldn’t be happier.

Highly recommended

http://rjgonza.com Ray

I wanna root my g1 sooo bad. I used to have so much fun with the new firmwares on my bb, but I always ran into some problems, like something not working or wasnt compatible.

I think I need to look in to the rooting scene more. Like, what I would need to do to go back and how destructive the process is. If anyone could point me in the right direction for some of this information that would be greatly appreciated.

http://androidandme.com Taylor Wimberly

The process is not that hard. I wrote a full guide, but never got around to posting it. I was scared of having a flood of people who don’t read the instructions and come back for help.

The only destructive thing is you are required to wipe your phone the first time you flash it. Since most of your data is backed up online, this is not much of a problem.

Just updated my rooted G1 to 1.5. (Thanks to you, even) I really like Cupcake. I think it’s much better than 1.1, even though it’s mostly UI updates.

http://androidandme.com Taylor Wimberly

I really like the new default browser and gmail application. I think I will do some in depth post on the new refinements found in 1.5.

Gammax

looks cool, cant wait to get my g1

http://www.binaryiris.com Alan Jones

Thanks for the nice coverage of the JF build. Tweeting away.

nEx.Software

I used the JF builds but recently switched to Haykuro (spelling may be off?) And have been happy so far with 1.5. I may flash JF to check it out.

http://twitter.com/Dnukem89 Duke

Great… Now I Want It Even More… Crap.. What Are Pros And Cons Of Rooting? If There Is Any Cons … And Dose It Void The Warranty Thru T Mo USA?? And Can I Take Root Off?? And Have Original Software When Cupcake Dose Come Out?

Keithamus

I had the same concerns as you. It appears though there are no disadvantages. I can still do everything I did on my unrooted phone plus loads more.

Perhaps if TMo caught you with a rooted phone they might void you warranty. If you broke it and sent it for repair I doubt they’d even notice. Remember you can just download the original build and to an ota update and you’ll be on the latest, official unrooted version – so roll backs are a complete possibility.

In the UK a TMo rep told me, and I was specific about this, that tethering was not against tos, and that I could tether with my sim card just not the phone. So rooting opens up legitamate and non-tos breaking features.

Pros of rooting should be evident. The article states most of them.

Andrew J.

Oh my, thanks so much for posting this, I’m installing it now!

Rey

Yea i would like to see a post also of the disadvantages also, but looks great !

http://androidandme.com Taylor Wimberly

Ok I am tweaking my root guide and also doing an article on the different flavors of cupcake.

eZtaR

I can gladly say that i have succesfully upgraded my previously rooted (used JF’s UK 1,43) UK G1 phone which is using a Danish SIM and it works like a charm although startuptimes are slow :P

Note: For an easy install just download the radio image from above, rename it to update.zip, put it into the root of your SD, reboot your phone while holding home, when the icon displays press ALT+l (if your phone isn’t rooted), then ALT+w, then press ALT+s, once it’s done press HOME+BACK to reboot.

Once rebooted replace the update.zip with the one you downloaded and renamed from JF’s blog and go through the steps above and you should have a rooted G1 with cupcake :)

Cjack

it seems that my phone is bricked. I went from JF 1.41 lite > JF 1.5. did a wipe, then installed the 1.5 radio. then installed the 1.5. unfortunately, the new android screen is stuck in a loop… any ideas on how to unbrick my phone?

Maikol

The same happened to me, but I had forgotten to wipe it first. Pull out the battery and restart it in recovery mode, hold home and power I believe. Then press ALT+L, then ALT+W, and then finally ALT+S. This worked for me.

http://www.2030.tk rac

@Cjack: try to get into fasstboot mode… this should still work to reflash a new image or restore your old one (if you have a nandroid backup)

http://www.easy2web.co.uk Matt

Can you use the same process to root and image an HTC Magic as a G1?

Carl

I thought the only JF cupcake out so far was for the adp developer G1 phones, not regular ‘retail’ G1′s. Can someone please advise?

http://androidandme.com Taylor Wimberly

You can load an ADP build on your retail G1 phone. I wrote a simple guide on flashing the different builds that I hope to publish soon. I’m also working on a piece that explains the differences between the builds and further explores the relationship between Google, HTC, and T-Mobile.

I updated but somehow lost my IM program so no yahoo or aim anyone know how to get it back?

Dan Thompson

I have a rooted and unlocked g1 I attempted to have cupcake installed when we got in installed the signal bars kept flashing on and off it would work for about 15 seconds then the signal bars wont work again what did I do wrong? do I need to install the new radio last?

Ade Lee

New G1 UK user here. Is ‘cupcake’ the 1.5 update I received this morning? If so, it’s great. Only drawback so far is Power Manager app no longer works. The virtual keyboard is fantastic and the browser is much sleeker.

david

I lost my im program too what do I do

J

I FOLLOWED THAT JESUS GUIDE STEP BY STEP NOW IM STUCK ON A BLUE WHITE AND GREEEN SCREEN AND MY PHONE WONT WORK NO MORE..WHEN I DOWNLOAD THE DREAM FILE IT SAYS FAILED AND NOW I HAVE TO SEND MY PHONE BACK TO TMOBILE

John

I had the same problem with the screen J, I think it’s because your file is corrupted and the phone can’t read it. Another reason is that it’s still zipped and u need to extract the dream file or that you need to change the file name.

http://Facebook Maine

I just updated my G1 to JFv1.51 but I have no virtual Keyboard what woul cause this please assist…..

Andre

Me too without virtual keyboard. Why? Help us, please…
Cry….

Andre

Solved, Menu-Settings-Locale & Text- Android keyboard Checked and the keyboard is back

Ruben

I wanted to get the HERO rom but sounds too complicated Iv’ed bricked my phone many times but all you have to do is RE-Flash it. Does anyone know how to install a ne SPL and why should I install a new SPL?

http://www.kacaudah.com Rudy Serey

Hi there! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog. Is it hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Thank you

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